Strategy

New York -- RKF said it has arranged a 2,100-sq.-ft. lease for GNC at 302 Canal Street in downtown Manhattan.

The new store, which will consist of 1,050 sq. ft. on both the ground floor and basement of the building, is located less than one block east of Broadway near Mercer Street.  It will become GNC’s 47th Manhattan location when it officially opens this spring.

With this latest lease transaction, RKF has arranged five retail leases in New York City on behalf of GNC.

Pittsburgh -- American Eagle Outfitters said Friday that its first Philippines store opened on March 1, at Bonifacio High Street in Taguig City, Manila.  
 
The retailer said that additional stores are planned in 2013 throughout the country, operated by franchise partner Suyen Corp.

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa. — Nutrisystem has announced that Andrea Weiss has joined the company’s board of directors, effective immediately. She replaces Michael Devine, who has resigned from the board.

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners announced that Sean Thomas has been named first VP of the company’s Phoenix office.

Thomas will focus on disposition and investment services in his new position.

New York -- A Friday report by Reuters revealed that J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson was well aware that the retailer’s deal with Martha Stewart would step on Macy’s toes, but testified in court that the company decided to move forward anyway.

Attorneys for Macy’s in New York state court on Friday presented Johnson with an email he sent to a Penney board member saying that Stewart would have to break her agreement with Macy’s if Johnson was going to “pull off” a deal with her.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — As Target's Canadian debut draws near, the company announced that it is opening three pilot stores in Ontario on March 5 at Stone Road in Guelph, Milton Mall Shopping Centre in Milton and Gates of Fergus in Fergus. The three pilot stores are the first Target locations to open in Canada, and the first of 124 Target stores that will open across the country throughout 2013.

Columbus, Ohio -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Monday it has worked with SolarCity to install solar panels on 12 Walmart stores and Sam's Clubs throughout Ohio.

The solar panel installations will add approximately 6,000,000 kWh of generation production – enough energy to power more than 820 homes – and are expected to supply approximately 5%-20% of each store's overall electricity use.

Chevy Chase, Md. -- Chevy Chase Land Co. announced that Lucy Fraser has been named VP of asset management for the company.

Fraser previously served as VP of property management for Combined Properties.